Of late, elections in West Bengal have drawn widespread attention, largely due to the high-voltage campaigning led by the ruling party at the Centre. The Prime Minister has taken on the role of a key campaigner, underlining the significance the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attaches to the state. For the party, victory is a priority, which explains not only frequent rallies by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister but also the active involvement of Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states.
“You need more than 148 seats in Bengal to be dominant,” says senior journalist Shikha Mukerjee, pointing to a central feature of the state’s politics. Unlike many other states, West Bengal has historically favoured a single dominant force—whether it was the Congress in the early decades, the Left Front for over three decades, or more recently the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, despite its rapid rise, has yet to achieve such dominance. Its presence remains significant but uneven—strong in certain pockets but lacking statewide consolidation.
The BJP’s strategy in Bengal, according to Mukerjee, includes drawing on the lingering social and political effects of Partition. By framing sections of the Muslim population as “infiltrators” or “encroachers,” the party attempts to connect historical grievances with its broader ideological positioning. This marks a shift from Bengal’s earlier political culture, where overtly communal narratives had limited space. From 1947 until roughly 2014–16, the state’s political contest was largely between secular forces—the Congress and the Left, followed by the Left and the Trinamool Congress. The BJP’s emergence after 2016 reflects a structural change, introducing a more polarised political discourse.
Historically, the BJP and its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, had minimal presence in the state. At one stage, the party had only a single MLA, with influence confined largely to a small urban pocket in Kolkata. For decades, Hindutva politics found limited resonance in Bengal’s socio-political fabric. Even organisations such as the Hindu Mahasabha did not succeed in building a substantial base despite their origins in the region. The BJP’s image as a “cow belt” party also distanced it from Bengal’s cultural ethos, often associated with the “Bhadralok” sensibility marked by intellectualism, cultural pride, and social refinement.
Mukerjee also points to a deeper transformation beyond electoral numbers—the gradual normalisation of sentiments that were previously less visible in public discourse. She notes that there had long been an undercurrent of hostility among certain sections, particularly among some Hindu refugees who migrated during Partition, but social norms discouraged overt expression of such views. Openly aggressive anti-Muslim rhetoric was generally seen as socially unacceptable. That restraint, rooted in Bhadralok culture, appears to have weakened over time. With the BJP’s rise at the national level, expressions of such sentiments have, for some, gained greater political legitimacy.
The BJP’s growth in Bengal is closely linked to its expansion at the national level under Narendra Modi. The 2014 general election marked an important moment, with the development-focused slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” appealing to sections of the electorate. By 2019, the BJP had won 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, signalling a major breakthrough. This performance raised expectations for the 2021 Assembly elections, where the party was projected by some observers to cross 120 seats. However, it ultimately secured 77 seats—an increase, but not enough to form the government. Current trends suggest that similar challenges may persist in future contests.
Despite its gains, the BJP’s inability to convert momentum into dominance points to structural limitations. In West Bengal, political power is not only about numbers; it also depends on organisational reach and influence across districts. A party must establish deep-rooted networks across the state to be viewed as a credible ruling force. Even with 77 seats, the BJP remains a strong but not dominant player. As Mukerjee observes, the party has yet to demonstrate the capacity to maintain consistent influence across all districts. This may explain why party leaders speak of securing a majority but are more cautious about projecting a two-thirds mandate—traditionally associated with dominance in the state.
Beyond electoral arithmetic, there is also a broader debate around identity. Mukerjee frames the current political contest as involving questions of cultural and regional identity. For many in Bengal, the rise of the BJP raises questions about how the state’s distinct cultural and intellectual traditions align with a broader national political narrative. Symbolic gestures—such as references to food habits or attempts to project cultural familiarity—have sometimes been met with scepticism, with critics arguing that such efforts can appear performative rather than organic within a deeply rooted local culture.
Despite the BJP’s expansion, Mamata Banerjee continues to command considerable influence. Her leadership style and grassroots outreach have enabled the Trinamool Congress to maintain its position. In Bengal’s political tradition, voters have often consolidated behind a single dominant force. As long as Banerjee retains that position, the BJP’s path to power remains challenging. Even if the BJP were to significantly improve its tally, Mukerjee suggests it may still be viewed as a secondary force unless it achieves broader statewide dominance.
The contest in Bengal extends beyond elections. It also involves questions of identity, cultural expression, and political direction. For many voters, the issue is not only who governs but also what that governance represents. The state’s historical self-image—shaped by intellectual traditions, pluralism, and cultural distinctiveness—continues to influence political outcomes.
The BJP’s trajectory in West Bengal reflects rapid growth but an incomplete transition to dominance. From a marginal presence to becoming the principal opposition, the party has significantly altered the state’s political landscape. However, as Mukerjee indicates, growth alone may not be sufficient. Without wider organisational reach and alignment with local political culture, electoral gains may not translate into power. In Bengal, political authority is typically consolidated rather than shared, and that remains a key challenge for the BJP.
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*Freelance content writer and editor based in Nagpur; co-founder of TruthScape, a group focused on addressing disinformation on social media
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